intelligence from the captured documents revealed that at least 3 @ , @ 000 japanese troops were on the island and apparently planning an attack . eds ##on and colonel gerald thomas , van ##de ##gr ##if ##t ' s operations officer , believed that the japanese attack would come at the lung ##a ridge , a narrow , grassy , 1 @ , @ 000 m ( 1 @ , @ 100 yd ) long , coral ridge ( 9 ° 26 ′ 39 ″ s 160 ° 2 ′ 50 ″ e ) parallel to the lung ##a river just south of henderson field . the ridge offered a natural avenue of approach to the airfield , commanded the surrounding area and was almost und ##efe
intelligence from the captured documents revealed that at least 3 @, @ 000 japanese troops were on the island and apparently planning an attack. edson and colonel gerald thomas, vandegrift's operations officer, believed that the japanese attack would come at the lunga ridge, a narrow, grassy, 1 @, @ 000 m ( 1 @, @ 100 yd ) long, coral ridge ( 9 ° 26 ′ 39 ″ s 160 ° 2 ′ 50 ″ e ) parallel to the lunga river just south of henderson field. the ridge offered a natural avenue of approach to the airfield, commanded the surrounding area and was almost undefe